The Migration Queensland Skilled Program is OPEN for the 2023 – 24 program year to ONSHORE and OFFSHORE applicants.

Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

The Subclass 190 visa is a permanent state nominated visa.

The Subclass 491 visa is a 5-year provisional state nominated visa with a pathway to permanent residency.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for a Queensland nomination, you must meet both the Australian Department of Home Affairs criteria and Migration Queensland criteria for your chosen visa category.

Home Affairs criteria require you to:

  • have a points-test result of 65 or higher, inclusive of state nomination points;
  • have a positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation;
  • be under 45 years of age;
  • meet the minimum English language requirement of Competent, unless a higher level is required by your assessing authority.

Migration Queensland criteria requires you to:

RequirementSkilled Nominated (Permanent) visa 
(subclass 190)
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
PointsHave a points test result of 75 or higher (except for Trades occupations* which require 70 or higher)Have a points test result of 65 or higher
OccupationHave an occupation on Home Affairs relevant list of eligible skilled occupations (LIN19/051)Have an occupation on Home Affairs relevant list of eligible skilled occupations (LIN19/051)  
EnglishHave Competent English or higher (except for occupations where a higher level of English is required**)Have Competent English or higher (except for occupations where a higher level of English is required**)
Work experienceMust provide evidence that you have been living in Queensland and undertaking full-time post qualification employment (minimum of 30 hours per week), in your nominated or closely related occupation for three months immediately before EOI lodgement. You must still be employed in your nominated or closely related occupation when your EOI is assessed.Must provide evidence that you are living and working in regional Queensland and have full-time post-qualification employment (minimum of 30 hours per week) in your nominated or closely related occupation at the time of your EOI lodgement. You must still be employed in your nominated or closely related occupation when your EOI is assessed.
Evidence of ongoing employmentMust provide evidence that you have ongoing full-time (minimum of 30 hours per week) employment for a further twelve months at time of EOI lodgement in your nominated occupationMust provide evidence that you have ongoing full-time (minimum of 30 hours per week) employment in regional Queensland for a further six months at time of EOI lodgement in your nominated occupation
Commitment to living in QueenslandMust commit to living and working in Queensland for two years from date of visa grantMust commit to living and working in regional Queensland for three years from date of visa grant

source: https://migration.qld.gov.au/program-updates/skilled-program